National Republican., 1887-04-07
The Tariff and Taxation.

On Monday tine NATIONAL REPUBLICAN
showed what each of the southern states
would have to pay toward the expenses OF
the general government II free trade should
be accepted as the method of collecting the
needed revenue, and asserted that this was
the Democratic idea. Since that article
was written, Hon. Frank Hurd, noted
Democratic leader, has said he Intends to
canvass his district upon the avowed policy
of free trade, and 1t is well known that he
really represents the predominant Demo.
cratic sentiment, boldly expressing what
others who think with him endeayor to
conceal.
Ex-speaker Carlisle, in an interview some
days ago, already noticed in the NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN, held out the idea that duty
levied upon an article necessarily increased
the price of the article, and was therefore
tao which the consumer paid. This is the
stock argument of the free traders. They tell
the farmer that his trace chains and harness,
his wagons and plows, his hoes, and all the
implements of industry are taxed the
amount OF the duty levied on iron and
wood. They tell the people that the clothes
they wear are taxed the amount of the
duties levied on cotton and woolen goods
These free traders grow eloquent In
denouncing the high tariff taxation which
produces an enormous surplus in the treas
ury and demand the repeal OF "these taxes"
The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, has shown in
dollars and cents the amount the southern
states would have to pay under direct tax
lt have 30 ~
to the state to raise this tax. Now, let some
free trader show how much each of these
states pays into the national treasury under
the tariff system. Let them demonstrate
in figures, not Of speech, but the numerals
that represent dollars and cents, how much
the price of the articles on which a duty is
levied and the people consume has been
augmented by the duty.
Should enc attempt to do this he would
most miserably fail; for the fact is that tariff
duties, by stimulating home production and
putting home products In competition with
foreign products, have reduced the price OF
all kinds and characters Of manufactured
goods.
Let any man who purchased clothing for
himself and family in 1859 compare the
prices paid then and now, and he will see
that these kinds Of goods have been reduced
at least so per cent. in cost. Let him take
his plows, his hoes, his wagons, harness,
and other implements Of labor, and he will
find similar condition OF affairs Let him
examine as to the cost OF paints and glass
for building, and still the same story /!
told, and on all these articles there has beer
o high tariff since 1861, while before tina
time there was virtually none.
But the free trader will answer, "tha
may be true, but, then, these goods are al
made cheaper abroad than they are here
and II the duty were removed could be i'm
ported and sold cheaper The answer t.
that argument is simply this: When w
formerly imported goods labor was cheape
In Europe than 1t is now, and the good
were higher in price than they ar
now. Break down the American manufac
turers a monopoly of supplying us, an,
they can and will charge any price the
please. Besides which all the people
amounting to many millions, now engaged
in manufacturing pursuits In the United
States, II the factories were closed, instea'
of being consumers Of the farmers prod
ucts would be compelled themselves to be
come tillers Of the soil, aud thus, insteat
Of being customers, would become rival
In business.
The truth is that the duty on any articl
that is or can be manufactured or grown 4
the country is not a tar. The only take
the American people now pay to the gen
eral government are the internal revenu
taxes. The tariff duties have been 8
wisely adjusted to encourage America
manufactures that the cost Of all the necei
sarles of life has been lowered, the emo
nous expenses of the government entaile
by the war have been paid almost without nj
tonal taxation, and they at the same tim
have added enormously TO the wealth Of th
country and increased the price Of labor
all the avocatons OF life where manul
labor is demanded.
A return to the Democratic policy OF fre
trade would plunge the country into dli
tress and do more material damage tina
would the bombardment and destruction {
the city Of New York by hostile fleet.